Method and system for confirming location of product within shelf using rfid

ABSTRACT

Present invention relates to method for confirming location of product using RFID. Method for confirming location of product on a shelf in a product location confirmation system including: a plurality of shelf areas; a location tag which is provided at each shelf and transmits an RFID signal; a reader which is provided at each shelf and reads the RFID signal; and a server for analyzing the information collected through the reader comprises the steps of: the reader confirming whether a location tag signal is received; the server determining the absence of the product on the corresponding shelf when the location tag signal is received; the reader confirming whether a product tag signal as the RFID signal transmitted from the product is received when the location tag signal is not received; and the server determining the presence of the product within the corresponding shelf when the product tag signal is received.

PRIORITY

This application is the National Stage of International Application No.PCT/KR2011/000460, filed Jan. 24, 2011, and this application claims thebenefit under of a Korean patent application filed in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office on Jan. 29, 2010 and assigned Serial No.10-2010-0008334, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a method of confirming alocation of a product using an RFID, and more specifically, to a methodof confirming information on whether a product is loaded on a shelf, aspecific location, and a status thereof using an RFID.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, product management services refer to services in which aplurality of shelves are provided, and products are stored and managedon each shelf In order to provide the product management services,precise information on which shelf is loaded with products is required.For this purpose, conventionally, products were located on shelves anddata was manually input or barcodes attached to the products were readto perform operations such as reading locations of the shelves ormapping thereto. This is inconvenient in that it causes data to bemanually recorded, and operations to be performed twice.

Attempts have been made to overcome the conventional problems. Forexample, attempts have been made to manage products located on a shelfusing a radio-frequency identification (RFID) technique. However, aconventional method of confirming a location of a product on a shelfusing an RFID causes a malfunction such as a reader reading informationon a product on a next shelf to occur, and thus an apparatusinterrupting a radio wave was required to be additionally installed ineach shelf.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the abovementioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least theadvantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide a method and system for confirming locations ofproducts loaded on a shelf that is capable of facilitating theconfirmation of locations of the loaded products and information thereofusing an RFID without installing an additional apparatus.

The above aspects are achieved by providing a method of confirming alocation of a product on a shelf in a system for confirming a locationof a product including a plurality of shelf areas, a location tagincluded in each shelf and storing locations of the shelves, a readerincluded in each shelf and reading an RFID signal and an RFID serveranalyzing information collected by the reader. The method includes thereader confirming whether or not a location tag signal is received, theRFID server determining that no product is on the corresponding shelfwhen the location tag signal is received, the reader confirming whetheror not a signal of the product tag included in a product to transmit anRFID signal is received when the location tag signal is not received,and the RFID server determining that a product is on the correspondingshelf when the signal of the product tag is received.

The method may further include the RFID server determining that an erroroccurs in the reader when the signal of the product tag is not received.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reader locatedin the shelf may be prevented from reading the location tag located inthe shelf when a product is located on the shelf.

In the method of confirming a location of a product on a shelf in thesystem for confirming a location of a product on a shelf including afirst shelf and a second shelf adjacent to each other, a first readerlocated in the first shelf, a first location tag located in the firstshelf, a second reader located in the second shelf, and a secondlocation tag located in the second shelf, the RFID server may determinethat no product is on the first shelf when the first reader reads asignal of the first location tag but is unable to read a signal of thesecond location tag.

The RFID server may determine that no product is on the first shelf whenthe first reader reads the signals of the first and second locationtags. Here, the RFID server may reduce the intensity of an emitted radiowave of the first reader until the signal of the second location tag isnot recognized. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, theRFID server may gradually reduce the intensity of the emitted radio waveof the first reader to the intensity of a predetermined radio wave.

The RFID server may cause an alarm to be output when the first readerrecognizes the signal of the second location tag even when the intensityof the emitted radio wave of the first reader reaches the minimum.

The RFID server may determine that an error occurs in the first locationtag when the first reader is unable to read the signal of the firstlocation tag but reads the second location tag signal.

The RFID server may determine that an error occurs in the first readerwhen the first reader is unable to read the signals of the first andsecond location tags.

The RFID server may determine that an error occurs in the secondlocation tag when the second reader reads the signal of the firstlocation tag but is unable to read the signal of the second locationtag.

The RFID server may determine that no product is on the second shelfwhen the second reader reads the signals of the first and secondlocation tags. Here, the RFID server may reduce the intensity of anemitted radio wave of the second reader until the signal of the firstlocation tag is not recognized. In an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the RFID server may gradually reduce the intensity ofthe emitted radio wave of the second reader to the intensity of apredetermined radio wave.

The RFID server may cause an alarm to be output when the second readerrecognizes the signal of the first location tag even when the intensityof the emitted radio wave of the second reader reaches the minimum.

The RFID server may determine that no product is on the second shelfwhen the second reader is unable to read the signal of the firstlocation tag but reads the signal of the second location tag.

The RFID server may determine that an error occurs in the second readerwhen the second reader is unable to read the signals of the first andsecond location tags.

The RFID server may determine that a product is on the first shelf whenthe first reader reads the signal of the product tag located in theproduct but is unable to read the signal of the second location tag.

The RFID server may determine that a product is on the first shelf whenthe first reader reads the signal of the product tag located in theproduct and the signal of the second location tag.

The RFID server may determine that a product is on the second shelf whenthe second reader reads the signal of the product tag located in theproduct but is unable to read the signal of the first location tag.

The RFID server may determine that a product is on the second shelf whenthe second reader reads the signal of the product tag located in theproduct and the signal of the first location tag.

One aspect of the present invention provides a system for confirming alocation of a product on a shelf The system for confirming a location ofa product on a shelf according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention includes a plurality of shelf areas, a location tag includedin each shelf and transmitting an RFID signal, a reader included in eachshelf and reading the RFID signal, and an RFID server analyzing datacollected by the reader and including an operating system facilitatingoperations of the system, an RFID middleware for analyzing and refiningthe data collected by the reader, and an application for using the datarefined and analyzed through the RFID middleware.

The reader and the location tag located in each shelf may be mapped toeach other to be managed.

The RFID server may determine that no product is on the correspondingshelf when the reader receives a location tag signal.

The RFID server may determine that a product is on the correspondingshelf when the reader is unable to receive the location tag signal butreceives the signal of the product tag included in the product totransmit an RFID signal.

The RFID server may determine that an error occurs in the reader whenthe reader is unable to receive the signals of the location and producttags.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reader locatedin the shelf may be prevented from reading the location tag located inthe shelf when a product is on the shelf.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments the present invention will become more apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of confirming a location ofa product in a system for confirming a location of a product using anRFID according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate a method of confirming a location of a productin a system for confirming a location of a product using an RFIDaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a system for confirming alocation of a product using an RFID according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompany drawings. First, inadding reference numerals to elements in each drawing, when an elementof the inventive disclosure appears in more than one drawing, it may bedenoted by the same reference numeral in each drawing. Further, whendetailed descriptions of known functions and components are consideredto unnecessarily render the features of the present invention unclear,they may be omitted.

A system for confirming a location of a product according to the presentinvention includes a plurality of shelf areas, a location tag includedin each shelf and transmitting an RFID signal, a reader included in eachshelf and reading the RFID signal, and an RFID server analyzinginformation collected by the reader.

A method of confirming a location of a product in the system forconfirming a location of a product having such a structure according tothe present invention will be described with reference to drawings asindicated below.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of confirming a location ofa product in the system for confirming a location of a product using anRFID according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the reader confirms whether or not a location tagsignal is received (S101). When the location tag signal is received, theRFID server determines that no product is on the corresponding shelf(S105).

When the location tag signal is not received, the reader confirmswhether or not a signal of a product tag included in a product totransmit an RFID signal is received (S103).

When the signal of the product tag is received, the RFID serverdetermines that a product is on the corresponding shelf (S107). When thesignal of the product tag is not received, the RFID server determinesthat an error occurs in the reader (S109). When the product is locatedon the shelf in the present invention, the reader located in the shelfmay be prevented from reading the location tag located in the shelf.

Now, the method of confirming a location of a product on a shelf will bedescribed in detail through various exemplary embodiments regarding thepresence of products located on each shelf.

FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate a method of confirming a location of a productin a system for confirming a location of a product using an RFIDaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a system for confirming a location of a product including afirst shelf 100 and a second shelf 200 adjacent to each other, a firstreader 110 located in the first shelf 100, a first location tag 120located in the first shelf 100, a second reader 210 located in thesecond shelf 200, and a second location tag 220 located in the secondshelf 200 is illustrated.

FIG. 2 corresponds to an exemplary embodiment in which no product is onthe first and second shelves 100 and 200.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the first reader 110 reads a signal of thefirst location tag 120 but it is unable to read a signal of the secondlocation tag 220, an RFID server determines that no product is on thefirst shelf 100.

When the first reader 110 reads both the signals of the first and secondlocation tags 120 and 220, the RFID server determines that no product ison the first shelf 100. Here, the RFID server reduces the intensity ofan emitted radio wave of the first reader 110 until the signal of thesecond location tag 220 is not recognized. The RFID server according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention may gradually reducethe intensity of the emitted radio wave of the first reader 110 to theintensity of a predetermined radio wave. Even if the intensity of theemitted radio wave of the first reader 110 reaches the minimum, when thefirst reader 110 recognizes the signal of the second location tag 220,the RFID server causes an alarm to be output.

When the first reader 110 is unable to read the signal of the firstlocation tag 120 but reads the signal of the second location tag 220,the RFID server may determine that an error occurs in the first locationtag 120.

When the first reader 110 is unable to read the signals of the first andsecond location tags 120 and 220, the RFID server may determine that anerror occurs in the first reader 110.

When the second reader 210 reads the signal of the first location tag120 signal but is unable to read the signal of the second location tag220, the RFID server may determine that an error occurs in the secondreader 220.

When the second reader 210 reads the signals of the first and secondlocation tags 120 and 220, the RFID server may determine that no productis on the second shelf 200. Here, the RFID server reduces the intensityof the emitted radio wave of the second reader 210 until the firstlocation tag 120 signal is not recognized. The RFID server according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention may gradually reducethe intensity of the emitted radio wave of the second reader 210 to theintensity of a predetermined radio wave. Even if the intensity of theemitted radio wave of the second reader 210 reaches the minimum, whenthe second reader 210 recognizes the signal of the first location tag120, the RFID server causes an alarm to be output.

When the second reader 210 is unable to read the signal of the firstlocation tag 120 but reads the signal of the second location tag 220,the RFID server determines that no product is on the second shelf 200.

When the second reader 210 is unable to read the signals of the firstand second location tags 120 and 220, the RFID server may determine thatan error occurs in the second reader 210.

In FIG. 3, a system for confirming a location of a product comprising afirst shelf 100 and a second shelf 200 adjacent to each other, a firstreader 110 located in the first shelf 100, a first location tag 120located in the first shelf 100, a second reader 210 located in thesecond shelf 200, and a second location tag 220 located in the secondshelf 200 is illustrated.

FIG. 3 corresponds to an exemplary embodiment in which a first product130 is on the first shelf 100, and no product is on the second shelf200.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the first reader 110 reads a signal of thefirst product tag 140 located in the first product 130 but is unable toread a signal of the second location tag 220, the RFID server determinesthat a product is on the first shelf 100.

When the first reader 110 reads both the signal of the first product tag140 located in the first product 130 and that of the second location tag220, the RFID server determines that a product is on the first shelf100.

When the first reader 110 is unable to read the signal of the firstproduct tag 140 located in the first product 130 and that of the secondlocation tag 220, the RFID server determines that an error occurs in thefirst reader 110.

When the first reader 110 is unable to read the signal of the firstproduct tag 140 located in the first product 130 but reads the signal ofthe second location tag 220, the RFID server ignores a signal generatedat this time since the second location tag 220 is mapped to the secondreader 210.

When the second reader 210 reads the signal of the first product tag 140located in the first product 130 and the signal of the second locationtag 220, the RFID server determines that no product is on the secondshelf 200.

When the second reader 210 is unable to read the signal of the firstproduct tag 140 located in the first product 130 but reads the signal ofthe second location tag 220, the RFID server determines that no productis on the second shelf 200.

When the second reader 210 is unable to read the signal of the firstproduct tag 140 located in the first product 130 and that of the secondlocation tag 220, the RFID server determines that an error occurs in thesecond reader 210.

In FIG. 4, a system for confirming a location of a product including afirst shelf 100 and a second shelf 200 adjacent to each other, a firstreader 110 located in the first shelf 100, a first location tag 120located in the first shelf 100, a second reader 210 located in thesecond shelf 200, and a second location tag 220 located in the secondshelf 200 is illustrated.

FIG. 4 corresponds to an exemplary embodiment in which a first product130 to which a first product tag 140 is attached is on the first shelf100, and a second product 230 to which a second product tag 240 isattached is on the second shelf 200.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the first reader 110 reads both the firstproduct tag 140 and the second product tag 240, an RFID serverdetermines that a product is on the first shelf 100.

When the first reader 110 is unable to read the first product tag 140and the second product tag 240, the RFID server determines that an erroroccurs in the first reader 110.

When the first reader 110 reads the first product tag 140 but is unableto read the second product tag 240, the RFID server determines that aproduct is on the first shelf 100.

When the first reader 110 is unable to read the first product tag 140but reads the second product tag 240, the RFID server ignores a signalgenerated at this time since the second product tag 240 is read withoutreading the first location tag 120.

When the second reader 210 reads both the first and second product tags140 and 240, the RFID server determines that a product is on the secondshelf 200.

When the second reader 210 is unable to read the first and secondproduct tags 140 and 240, the RFID server determines that an erroroccurs in the second reader 210.

When the second reader 210 reads the first product tag 140 but is unableto read the second product tag 240, the RFID server ignores a signalgenerated at this time since the first product tag 140 is read withoutreading the second location tag 220.

When the second reader 210 is unable to read the first product tag 140but reads the second product tag 240, the RFID server determines that aproduct is on the second shelf 200.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system for confirming a location of aproduct using an RFID according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the system for confirming a location of a productusing an RFID includes a plurality of shelf areas 1 to N, a location tagincluded in each shelf and transmitting an RFID signal, a readerincluded in each shelf and reading the RFID signal, and an RFID server500 analyzing information collected by the reader. Here, the reader andthe location tag located in each shelf may be mapped to each other to bemanaged. Also, when a product is on a shelf, the reader located in theshelf may be prevented from reading the location tag located in theshelf.

The RFID server 500 includes an operating system 510, a database 520 forstoring data read from the reader, an RFID middleware 530 for analyzingand refining the data, and an application 540 for using the data refinedand analyzed through the RFID middleware 530.

The RFID server 500 determines that no product is on the correspondingshelf when the reader connected to the RFID server 500 through acommunication network receives a location tag signal.

When the reader is unable to receive the location tag signal butreceives a product tag signal included in the product to transmit anRFID signal, the RFID server 500 determines that a product is on thecorresponding shelf.

The RFID server 500 determines that an error occurs in the reader whenthe reader is unable to receive the signals of the location and producttags.

As set forth above, it is possible to an exact location of a product ona shelf can be recognized in real time using an RFID technique. Also,according to the present invention, a normal operation status of eachRFID reader installed in a shelf area can be recognized in real time. Inaddition, it is unnecessary to install a separate radio wave jammer inorder to prevent products loaded on the adjacent shelf area from beingerroneously recognized, and thus cost can be reduced.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. A method of confirming a location of a product on a shelf in a systemfor confirming a location of a product including a plurality of shelfareas, a location tag included in each shelf and transmitting an RFIDsignal, a reader included in each shelf and reading an RFID signal andan RFID server analyzing information collected by the reader, the methodcomprising: confirming, by the reader, whether or not a location tagsignal is received; determining, by the RFID server, that no product ison the corresponding shelf when the location tag signal is received;confirming, by the reader, whether or not a signal of the product tagincluded in a product to transmit an RFID signal is received when thelocation tag signal is not received; and determining, by the RFIDserver, that a product is on the corresponding shelf when the signal ofthe product tag is received.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the RFID server determining that an error occurs in thereader when the signal of the product tag is not received.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the reader located in the shelf is prevented fromreading the location tag located in the shelf when a product is locatedon the shelf.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the RFID serverdetermines that no product is on a first shelf when a first reader readsa signal of a first location tag but is unable to read a signal of asecond location tag in the system for confirming a location of a producton a shelf including the first shelf and a second shelf adjacentthereto, the first reader located in the first shelf, the first locationtag located in the first shelf, a second reader located in the secondshelf, and the second location tag located in the second shelf.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the RFID server determines that no product ison the first shelf when the first reader reads the signals of the firstand second location tags.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the RFIDserver reduces the intensity of an emitted radio wave of the firstreader until the signal of the second location tag is not recognized. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the RFID server gradually reduces theintensity of the emitted radio wave of the first reader to the intensityof a predetermined radio wave.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein theRFID server causes an alarm to be output when the first readerrecognizes the signal of the second location tag even though theintensity of the emitted radio wave of the first reader reaches theminimum.
 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the RFID server determinesthat an error occurs in the first location tag when the first reader isunable to read the signal of the first location tag but reads the secondlocation tag signal.
 10. The method of claim 4, wherein the RFID serverdetermines that an error occurs in the first reader when the firstreader is unable to read the signals of the first and second locationtags.
 11. The method of claim 4, wherein the RFID server determines thatan error occurs in the second location tag when the second reader readsthe signal of the first location tag but is unable to read the signal ofthe second location tag.
 12. The method of claim 4, wherein the RFIDserver determines that no product is on the second shelf when the secondreader reads the signals of the first and second location tags.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the RFID server reduces the intensity of anemitted radio wave of the second reader until the signal of the firstlocation tag is not recognized.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein theRFID server gradually reduces the intensity of the emitted radio wave ofthe second reader to the intensity of a predetermined radio wave. 15.The method of claim 13, wherein the RFID server causes an alarm to beoutput when the second reader recognizes the signal of the firstlocation tag even though the intensity of the emitted radio wave of thesecond reader reaches the minimum.
 16. The method of claim 4, whereinthe RFID server determines that no product is on the second shelf whenthe second reader is unable to read the signal of the first location tagbut reads the signal of the second location tag.
 17. The method of claim4, wherein the RFID server determines that an error occurs in the secondreader when the second reader is unable to read the signals of the firstand second location tags.
 18. The method of claim 4, wherein the RFIDserver determines that a product is on the first shelf when the firstreader reads the signal of the product tag located in the product but isunable to read the signal of the second location tag.
 19. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the RFID server determines that a product is on thefirst shelf when the first reader reads the signal of the product taglocated in the product and the signal of the second location tag. 20.The method of claim 4, wherein the RFID server determines that a productis on the second shelf when the second reader reads the signal of theproduct tag located in the product but is unable to read the signal ofthe first location tag.
 21. The method of claim 4, wherein the RFIDserver determines that a product is on the second shelf when the secondreader reads the signal of the product tag located in the product andthe signal of the first location tag.
 22. A system for confirming alocation of a product using an RFID comprising: a plurality of shelfareas; a location tag included in each shelf and transmitting an RFIDsignal; a reader included in each shelf and reading the RFID signal; andan RFID server analyzing data collected by the reader and including anoperating system, a database for storing data read from the reader, anRFID middleware for analyzing and refining the data, and an applicationfor using the data refined and analyzed through the RFID middleware. 23.The system of claim 22, wherein the reader and the location tag locatedin each shelf are mapped to each other to be managed.
 24. The system ofclaim 22, wherein the RFID server determines that no product is on thecorresponding shelf when the reader receives a location tag signal. 25.The system of claim 22, wherein the RFID server determines that aproduct is on the corresponding shelf when the reader is unable toreceive the location tag signal but receives the signal of the producttag included in the product to transmit an RFID signal.
 26. The systemof claim 25, wherein the RFID server determines that an error occurs inthe reader when the reader is unable to receive the signals of thelocation and product tags.
 27. The system of claim 22, wherein thereader located in the shelf is prevented from reading the location taglocated in the shelf when a product is on the shelf.